Concrete Pool Restoration
Your concrete pool is showing its age. The surface that used to feel smooth now scratches skin. There are cracks you didn’t notice a few seasons ago. Old paint is lifting. The water level keeps dropping and you can’t explain why. A full pool replacement feels like an extreme response to what might be a surface and structural problem โ not a reason to start over.
White Rock Custom Concrete specialises in concrete pool restoration and epoxy coating. We are one of very few companies in Southwestern Ontario offering this at a genuine specialist level. Based in London, Ontario with over 15 years of experience across both concrete work and pool services, we bring a combination of skills that this type of restoration specifically requires. Most contractors can do one or the other. We do both, and that difference shows in the results.
Concrete pools don’t fail overnight. The deterioration is gradual, but these are the signs that restoration is overdue:
- Rough or abrasive surface texture that irritates skin
- Visible cracks or chipping in the pool shell
- Surface staining that no longer responds to chemical treatment
- Peeling, flaking, or bubbling old paint or coating
- Water loss beyond normal evaporation
- Faded, patchy, or uneven colour across the pool surface
- Algae persistently taking hold in pitted surface areas
These are not cosmetic issues. A deteriorating pool surface makes water chemistry harder to manage, accelerates further structural breakdown, and โ left unaddressed โ shortens the usable life of the entire pool
Why Epoxy Is the Right Coating for a Concrete Pool
Not all pool coatings are equal. For a concrete pool being properly restored, epoxy is the right choice โ and understanding why matters when you’re evaluating contractors.
Epoxy is chemically resistant. It withstands the chlorine levels and pH fluctuations a pool demands without breaking down the way standard pool paint does. It forms a hard, waterproof barrier that seals micro-cracks and prevents water from working into the shell and causing further freeze-thaw damage โ a real consideration through Ontario winters. The finished surface is smooth and non-porous, which means algae has nowhere to take hold and the pool is genuinely easier to keep clean and balanced.
A properly applied epoxy coating lasts significantly longer than conventional paint or plaster. The key phrase is properly applied โ specifically, applied to a properly prepared surface. Surface preparation is where most failed coatings begin. The concrete must be ground back, profiled, and cleaned to give the epoxy a mechanical bond. Skip or rush that step and the coating will delaminate, sometimes within a season. This is precisely where inexperienced contractors fall short, and it is why the combination of concrete knowledge and pool expertise matters so much for this work.
Very few contractors in Southwestern Ontario have both. White Rock does.
Our Restoration Process
Every concrete pool restoration follows a methodical sequence. There are no shortcuts that don’t show up later.
- Drain and inspect โ The pool is drained completely and the entire shell assessed for cracks, delamination, spalling, and any structural issues that need to be addressed before coating begins.
- Crack repair and structural work โ Cracks are opened, cleaned, and filled with appropriate concrete repair materials. Structurally compromised sections are addressed at this stage โ not covered over.
- Surface preparation โ The pool surface is ground and profiled to create the mechanical adhesion epoxy requires. This is the most critical step in the entire process.
- Epoxy coat application โ The coating is applied to the prepared surface across the full shell in the chosen colour and finish.
- Cure and refill โ The coating is allowed to cure fully before the pool is refilled and water chemistry is properly balanced.
If your concrete pool is showing its age, the right first step is an on-site assessment. White Rock Custom Concrete offers free quotes throughout London, Ontario and across Southwestern Ontario.
